The majority of Brazilians find out about politics and elections through journalistic programs on television and through social networks such as , and (formerly Twitter), according to research .
Of the total respondents, 58% say they use TV to find out about the topic, and 54% mention social media. Next come news sites (26%), conversations with friends and relatives (21%) and YouTube channels (21%). Podcasts, news programs on the radio and printed or online newspapers tied with 14% each. WhatsApp or Telegram is mentioned by 10% of respondents. Only 3% say they do not use any means to find out about politics.
Datafolha interviewed 2,004 Brazilians aged 16 or over from last Tuesday (3) to Thursday (5), in 137 municipalities. The maximum margin of error is plus or minus two percentage points, with a 95% confidence level. The research is registered with the TSE under protocol BR-03715/2026.
In the analysis by declared vote in the second round of 2022, the pattern regarding information media is inverted between voters of the president (PT) and the former president (PL).
Television is the predominant medium among Lulistas, cited by 66% of the group — 8 percentage points above the general average. Social networks appear in second place, with 47%. YouTube and WhatsApp or Telegram are mentioned by 16% and 8%, respectively.
Among those who voted for Bolsonaro, social networks lead, with mentions from 61% of the group, while TV comes in second, with 53%. YouTube is mentioned by 28%, 12 points higher than among Lula voters, and WhatsApp or Telegram is mentioned by 15%. The data suggest different ways of getting information between the two fields, with , outside the reach of traditional media.
A similar pattern appears among voters who declare their intention to vote for (PL-RJ) for president in the 2026 elections. In this group, 63% mention social networks as the main source of political information, and 50% cite TV. YouTube and WhatsApp or Telegram also appear with 28% and 15%, respectively, rates close to those recorded among his father’s voters in the previous election.
In other words, while the Lulist base remains more anchored on television, the electorate linked to Bolsonarism remains more dispersed across digital platforms, an environment in which editorial control is less and the circulation of disinformation, historically, is greater.
The use of social networks for political purposes was one of the key points of the digital militia inquiry, which gave rise to the investigation into former president Jair Bolsonaro’s coup plot — for attempted coup d’état and four other crimes.
At the beginning of the month, the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) stopped social media platforms in this year’s elections.
Now, they will need, for example, to present more reports on the measures they are taking in the context of electoral risks, called compliance plans. The court also predates until 24 hours after voting day.
